Glossary - Pathology

anesthesia - lack of normal sensation, especially the awareness of pain, which may be brought on by anesthetic drugs. General anesthesia causes loss of consciousness; local or regional anesthesia causes loss of feeling only to a specified area.

asymptomatic - to be without noticeable symptoms of disease.

atypical - not usual; often refers to the appearance of precancerous or cancerous cells.

autopsy - examination of a body after death. Autopsies are performed to determine cause of death, or to verify a diagnosis.

bilateral - affecting both sides of the body. Bilateral breast cancer is cancer occurring in both breasts at the same time.

biopsy - a procedure performed to remove tissue or cells from the body for examination under a microscope.

blood - the life-maintaining fluid which is made up of plasma, red blood cells (erythrocytes), white blood cells (leukocytes), and platelets; blood circulates through the body's heart, arteries, veins, and capillaries; it carries away waste matter and carbon dioxide, and brings nourishment, electrolytes, hormones, vitamins, antibodies, heat, and oxygen to the tissues.

blood banking - the process that takes place in a laboratory to ensure that the donated blood or blood products are safe before they are used for blood transfusions or other medical procedures.

bone marrow - the soft, spongy tissue found inside bones. It is the medium for development and storage of about 95 percent of the body's blood cells.

bone marrow aspiration and biopsy - the marrow may be removed by aspiration or a needle biopsy under local anesthesia. In aspiration biopsy, a fluid specimen is removed from the bone marrow. In a needle biopsy, marrow cells (not fluid) are removed. These methods are often used together.

cancer - not just one disease, but rather a group of diseases. All forms of cancer cause cells in the body to change and grow out of control. Most types of cancer cells form a lump or mass called a tumor. The tumor can invade and destroy healthy tissue.

carcinoma - cancer found in body tissues that cover or line surfaces of organs, glands, or body structures.

cellular pathology (Also called cytopathology.) - the study of cellular alterations in disease.

comparative pathology - the study of disease in animals and how it compares in humans.

primary site - the place where cancer begins. Primary cancer is named after the organ in which it starts. For example, cancer that starts in the kidney is always kidney cancer, even if it spreads (metastasizes) to other organs such as bones or lungs.

polyp - a structure consisting of a rounded head which grows outward from a broad base or stalk.

prognosis - predicting the likely outcome of a disease based on the condition of the patient and the action of the disease.